stay safe. >> thanks, everybody. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2021] ♪ >> you're watching c-span, your unfiltered view of government. america's created by cable television companies in 1979. today, we are brought to you by these television companies who provide c-span2 viewers as a public service. >> now, lead lamont and his state of the state address. he talks about the response to the coronavirus pandemic and thanks the people of connecticut , first responders, and teachers. he discusses health care, voting safely, racism, and the state budget and fiscal health. last year's state of the

state address seems like a long time ago. honored guests and the people of the state of connecticut, you wheree me into the room it happens. that room has become a virtual room. gratitudeexpress my to the caregivers and essential workers on the front lines. up in ways weed would never have imagined possible. on behalf of a grateful state, thank you, thank you, thank you. to take a moment of silence for the members of our connecticut family who we have lost this past year.

two years ago, i introduced my family to you, that we considered connecticut an extension of our own family. true today. , ande all in this together like any large family, we must care for one another. riddance,20 and good a challenging and humbling year. one year ago, we had never heard of covid. we have lostr, 6000 members of our connecticut family to this deadly virus. universities are trying hard to stay open, fighting for their very survival. working families are struggling to stay afloat. and ouro all of you,

scientific community, there is hope on the horizon. our state and nation are on the mend, and connecticut's comeback is happening. , i promised an open door and bigger table for democrats and republicans, labor and business, and it also includes a reopening committee, featuring the best health minds in the country. crisis ledugh this by science and honesty. some of those members are advising the president elect. people formed the vaccine advisory group, with leaders giving us confidence it is safe and effective to take the vaccine. keeping with the hamilton theme i spoke years ago, when about young alexander hamilton,

today, we are thinking about the only makes ah difference if nobody wastes their shot. resetting theout relationships which have for too long been neglected. as neighboring governors understood, this virus does not respect borders. when the federal government failed to come up with a national strategy, i worked with others in neighboring states. covid is not the only challenge that does not respect borders. i will continue to build those relationships, implementing more effective and less expensive solutions, transportation options incentivizing the move to electric vehicles, zero carbon electric grid, and stronger protection from cyber attacks.

i am working with neighboring states and look forward to a in ourdernizing gaming state and the legalization of marijuana. gaming,etting, internet legalize marijuana are happening around us. let's not surrender these opportunities to out-of-state markets or underground markets. that nos another virus snowboarders. following the tragic death of individuals, our nation was forced to confront the hard truths. protests are meaningful as a call to action. states,iolence in other our protest highlighted the best , lockingticut values arms in a common cause. we emphasize,

health care as a basic human right. have a renewed understanding that affordable, quality health care is not only essential for us, but our communities. safelycannot quarantine and don't have access to the vaccine, that is dangerous for all of us. two years ago, we understood how you didn't have to choose between a family you love and the job you need. rush toral government implement their own version for , workers employees fearing for their livelihoods. two years ago, a $15 minimum worker couldat

earn enough to provide for them and their family. that worker is an essential worker. these he rose cannot simply telecommute. their work is to essential. last spring, some of these workers began working with the commissioner to identify the centers located next to our hospitals. weeks, 26 centers provided free childcare to those front-line workers taking care of us. businessesall struggling to keep their doors open, some of the many working families trying to make the ins meet during this recession, we provided grants,

especially for the restaurant and hospitality businesses hit hardest. have streamlined our unemployment benefit program so employers can save jobs and retain their workers until the economy is back. vowed to work i tirelessly to make sure our kids had the greatest opportunities to create a life of their own right here in connecticut. with many students having to learn from home, covid revealed that too many students are left on the wrong side of the digital divide, exacerbating the achievement gap, computer access, broadband, these are the tools essential to success for the foreseeable future. when the pandemic struck, we work together to solve the digital divide. heart,rought his knowledge, and passion for

education on behalf of the students across connecticut. he was ready and helped to secure more than 140,000 laptops , more than 40,000 internet connections for students. because of him, connecticut was the first state in the nation to ensure every single public school student was equipped to engage in remote learning regardless of family income. president elect is referring to our very own educational minister, who will be the next secretary of education. we also want to be the first state to make sure our black and hispanic children, along with their white peers, have a better appreciation of their history and civilization, including native american history, which is about who they are and who we are. year, we will continue to

emphasize our best and nation public schools and workforce development, making sure every child has the best opportunity at the starting line of life. ther 10 months of covid, entire state should rise to its feet. with schools close, we kept our safely open because we prioritize our children and their futures, because they are our future. voting is all about children. that is why elections matter. the secretary of the state gets a shout out for making it easier to vote during this pandemic. appreciated the absentee ballots and early voting. we should make this permanent. emphasize how we important a balanced budget is to families, mayors, small

businesses so they can accurately plan for their future. support, weur passed a balanced budget that included a down payment on paying off pension liabilities, and created the light is a rainy day fund in our state's history. in these turbulent economic toes, we are well-positioned fund critical services without cuts for tax increases. two years ago, the wall street journal asked, what is wrong with connecticut? now commentators are applauding our budgetary approach. as recognition of this hard work, analysts have reported that connecticut is getting its fiscal house in order. we now have the lowest interest rates in our history, helping us rebuild our economy at less cost to our taxpayers. covid brings us back to health

care, the fastest-growing piece of our state budget and your family's budget. this year, we implemented benchmarks for services, similar to the benchmarks that have saved massachusetts families and taxpayers billions of dollars. to controller continues prioritize centers of excellent away your family's encounter higher quality health care at less cost. this is true for small businesses and state employees alike. the attorney general is pushing to hold down generic drug prices. expanded, connecticut access at less cost for the first time in years. two years ago, i said i did not want our state defined by a chronic fiscal crisis, which had been our norm and was sapping our confidence. want our state to

be defined by the covid crisis. that this year be the year of the connecticut come back. young families and businesses are giving us a second look, choosing connecticut, perhaps it is the quality of our education or a more stable fiscal outlook, our mayors who brought our towns to life, including some of the safest dining experiences in the country. covid may not be our last pandemic. whatever the reason, as people seek to improve the quality of their lives, they are choosing connecticut. they recognize and appreciate our connecticut values.

connecticut is ranked one of the best states in the country to raise a family for women, working mothers, and for public safety. connecticut rank higher for education childcare, women's health. covid has pushed too many women out of the workforce. willieutenant governor stay the most family-friendly state in the country. we will be expanding our commitment to affordable housing, access to broadband, open choice school incentive, as well as an expansion of workforce development and small business fund. that is how we get connecticut growing again in working for all our families with liberty and justice for all. the catechism i know won't let itself be defined by this crisis.

it is a state that has responded to a generational calling, with dozens of volunteers providing atport to families distribution centers. nurses coming out of retirement to help the covid clinic. college student stepping up to serve, business leaders providing the state with masks, gowns, and countless other examples of connecticut meeting its generational challenge. these are connecticut values. the next year will be that challenging time for our state and nation, but i have never been more optimistic about our future. our shared values and commitment to one another and we will build a better tomorrow. ofay is the first day connecticut's comeback story. god bless you all. and may god continue to bless the great state of connecticut. ♪

announcer: you are watching c-span, your unfiltered view of government. c-span was created in 1979. today, we are brought to you by these television companies, who provide c-span to viewers as a public service. washington dc mayor muriel bowser was critical of the federal capitol police for the response to the violence yesterday and she ordered a curfew and declared a public emergency, which has been extended. she was joined by the acting police chief and other city officials at this news briefing. g. i am muriel bowser, i am the mayor of washington, d.c. i am here to provide an update to provide the public with the district's fostering update on